Friday 17th of January 10.27a.m. Cold, wind & drizzle. 24.1 / 44.5kph S, Hg 55%, 18.1C / 64.6F, Dew point is 16.1C / 61F. Showers. Very windy. Marine wind warning. Coastal hazard - erosion + hazardous surf. Sheep graziers alert.
Moon is 87%
New South Wales braces for more storms, Port Stephens tourist hotspots hope for power restorations
5 hours ago
Port Stephens
Residents in regional New South Wales have been warned to brace for more wild weather as an intense storm cell sweeps across the state, bringing strong wind, heavy rain and hailstones.
More than 35,000 people remain without power in Sydney and the Greater Hunter after huge storms smashed parts the state's north-east, north-west and central-west on Wednesday and Thursday.
Several thousand regional customers were also without power by Friday morning in Essential Energy's network, with towns like Wagga Wagga, Lismore and Mudgee the most affected.
Strong wind gusts of up to 120 kilometres per hour uprooted trees, brought down power lines and blocked roads for hours in multiple towns across the state.
Port Stephens beaches are closed until further notice, due to utilities failures in the area.
Lifeguards will remain on duty at patrol locations to advise swimmers to stay out of the water.
Wagga Wagga has 700 customers without power.
Cafe owner Hayley Whiley said she was lucky to secure a generator to keep stock cool on Thursday.
"We've got our fridges and our freezers running but that's really all we can get running.
"We can't get any other power, no coffee machines, no exhausts, no lights or aircon... we've kind of just had to shut the doors."